Apparatus for imitating the game of skittles by means of automata.



No. 866,923( y PATENTED SEPT. 2A, 19o?.

o BIGHBNBERGBR. APPARATUS Pon IM-ITATING THE GAME 0F sKITTLBs-BY MEANS OP AUIOMATA. APPLIoATIqN r amenace-snm 1:

PATENTED SEPI'. 24, 1907.

O. EIGHBNBERGER. APPARATUS POR IMITATING THE GAME OP SKITTLES BY MEANS 0F AUTOMATA.

APPLIoATIoN FILED JULY 1e. 190e.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

No. 866,923. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. 0. EIGHBNBERGER.

APPARATUS POR IMITATING THE GAME O'vF SKITTLES BY MEANS OP AUTOMATA.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16. 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

,ZEE/em 26636.51 M Mlyf PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907.

O. EICHBNBERGER., APPARATUS POR IMITATING THE GAME 0F SKITTLES BY MEANS OF AUTOMATA.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

APPLIOATIONF-BED JULY 18. 1906.

Waff@ No. 866,923. PATENTBD SEPT.. 24, 1907. i o. EIGHBNBERGBR.

APPARATUS FOR IMITATING THE GAME OF SKITTLES BY MEANS 0F AUTOMATA.

APPLIOATION FILEDl JULY 16, 1906.

[17 6 S/HEETBfSHEET 5. 41%

No. 866,923. PATENTED SEPT. 24, 1907. o. EIGHBNBERGBR.

APPARATUS FOB. IMITATING T GAME OFSKITTLES BY MEANS 0F AUTOMATA.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 16, 1906.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 6.

UNITED STATES P ATENT OFFICE.'

OTTO EIOHENBERGER, OF GENEVA, SWITZERLAND, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO LEON Y BROCK, O F NEW YORK,

.APPARATUS FOR IMITATING THE GAME OF SKITTLES BY MEANS OF AUTOMATA.

Specification of Letters Patent.`

Pateni sept. 24, 19o?.

Application filed July 16, 1906. Serial No; 326,422.

To all whom it may concern: v

Be it known that I, OTTO EICHENBERGER, a citizen of the Swiss Republic, residing at Geneva, Switzerland, have invented certain new or Improved Apparatus for Imitating the Game of Skittles by Means of Automata, of which the following is a specication. ,This invention relates to apparatus for imitating the game of Skittles by means of automata.

The apparatus comprises a shaft adapted to be driven by a lnotor and to' operate counting mechanism which registers the results of the game, the said motor being provided with a device by means 'of which it can be started a-nd stopped at will. Cams fixed to the driving-shaft control, by means of suitable mechanism,

automata, one of which is .adapted to throw a ball said plate are connected with a device by means of which the number of the skittles knocked over is indicated after each throw of the ball.

The invention is illustrated in the annexed drawing in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary longitudinal Asection of one end of the apparatus. Fig. 1a is a view partly in section and partly in elevation illustrating the portion of the apparatus omitted in Fig. 1. Fig. 2 a plan view thereof, in partial section. Fig. 2a is a view partly in top plan and partlyin section of that portion of the apparatus illustrated in Fig. 11. Fig. 3 a sect-ion on the line A-A of Fig. l, and Fig. 4 a view of the counting mechanism. Figs. 5. to 14 illustrate details of the apparatus. Fig.'15 illustrates the arrangement of the skittles. i

The motorserving for operating the apapratus illus- 'trate'd is a spring motor'.` The crank 1 is fixed tothe hub 3 of the segments 4 and 41 so that by turning the clank the parts 4, 41 are moved. To the axle i5, on which the segments 4 and 41 are loosely mounted, is fixed a ratchet wheel 6 provided with two abutments The ratchet-wheel 6 is engaged by two pawls 7, 8, the pawl 7 being connected with the spring-barrel 9 of the motor and the pawl 8 being connected with the segment 41. Owing to the fact that thel pawl 8 is connected with the segment 41, the ratchet wheel/6 is Y operated by theirotation of the crank 1, and the segment 41 is also rotated untill the pawl 7 engages the 55 abutment 611. Since the ratchet wheel`6 on the shaft 5 is connected by the latter with the driving spring, t-he said spring is tensioned by the rotation of the shaft. By turning the crank 1 in the directionV indicated by the arrow in Fig. 2 a pin 10 fixed to the segment 4 is 60 caused, after a semi-revolution of the crank to abut against a projection 111 on the rod 11 and to displace the latter towards the right. Thereupon'the crank is rotated in the reverse direction through 180 degrees so that the pin 101 again abutting against the projec- 65 tion 111 of the rod 11 moves the latter back to the po sition shown in Fig. 1. The displacement of the rod 1l towards the right causes the pawl -13 to be disengaged from the segment 4 by a pin 12 fixed to the said' rod so that the subsequent rotation of the crank in the opposite-direction can take place.

For starting and stopping the motor the following mechanism is provided. To the segment 41 is fixed the pin 15 which operates the lever 16 when the crank and segment 41 are rotated. The lever 16 is fixed to one 75 endv of the shaft 17 and to the other end of the latter a bell-crank. lever 18 (Fig. 4:) is fixed. The aim 181 of this bell-crank lever 18 is connected with the pawl 19. By the movement of the lever 16 the shaft 17 and bellcrank lever 18 are moved in the direction indicated by 80 the arrow in Fig. 2.v By this means the `arm 181 is moved into engagement with the abutment 191 of the pawl 19. The doubly-bent lever arm 1811 abuts against the lever arm 201 o f the bell-crank lever 2O and causes, during its further rotation, a rotation of the shaft 21 in/ 85 the direction indicated in Fig. 2. The arm 201 of the bell-crank lever 20 which engages a recess 221 in the toothed Wheel 22, is by the rotation of the shaft 21 disengagedcfrom this toothed Wheel. This disengagement of the toothed wheel 22 takes place at the end of the 90 crank movement through degrees. The driving mechanism would thereupon begin to move the arm 231 if the bell-crank lever 23 did not prevent its movement.

Before the tensioning of the motor spring the crank 1 95 occupies the position indicated in Fig. 1 by the numeral I from this position it is rotated into -the position indicated by the numeral II, and thence back to the pesition I, the movement being similar to that of the lever of aratchet-brace'. g position I the lever-arm 23 is so operated by the pin 15 that the lever-arm 231 is removed from the pin 2 4 fixed to the front ofl the disk 251 keyed to the w0rm-shlttl 26.

'[he small ffy wheel'25 is loosely mounted en .the said worm-shaft 26 and is pressed by a spring 261 "against 105 the disk 251 sothat it rfotates with the latter when the When the crank 1 is moved into the 100 depressed in such a manner as to permit the rotation of lZ7 and the toothed gear 28, 29 and 30, 31, connected with a shoulder 43.

worm-shaft 26 is driven by means of the worm-wheel with the motor.. The purpose of the bell-crank lever 23 is to prevent the movement of the motor during the rotation of the crank 1. In order to -prevent the movement of the crank during the movement of the motor the following device is provided: With the shaft 21 is connected the lever 32 the free end of which forms a fork engaged by the double-armed lever 33. The arm 331 of the lever 33 is provided at its free end with a projection. During the rotation of the shaft. 2l in the direction indicated in `Fig. 2 by arrows the lever 33 is so operated that the lever-arm 331 movcs downwards and abuts against the segment 41, this action taking place at the end of the rotation of the crank into position 1l. During the return-movement of the crank 1 into the position I the segment 41 is also rotated, since it is connected with the cran k, and the lever arm 331 slides on the periphery of the segment- 41 until the projection fixed to the said arm engages the recess 35 in thi= segment. Thereupon the toothed-wheel 22 is driven by means of the spring-motor and the shaft 37 and intermediate gear so that on the running down of the spring the projection 36 of the toothed -wheel 22 operates the pawl 19 in such a mannerY that the arm 181 of the anglelever 18 is moved from the recess 191 into the recess 1911`and the shaftsv17 and 21 rotate in the direction opposite to that indicated by the arrows in Fig. 2. The lever 32 therefore moves downwards and engages the lever 33, so that the projecting part of the lever-arm 331 is removed from the recess 35 in the segment 41. The lever 32 is also provided with an abutment 321 which then engages the pin 24 and prevents further rotation of thedisk 251 and motor.

The driving mechanism is so constructed that it can be wound up after the insertion of a coin or Without such insertion.

For winding`upI the mechanism by means of a coin the following arrangement is provided. To the support 38is connected a double armed lever 39 the arm 391 of which is provided with a slot 40 for the passage, of the coin. To the lever-arm 391 there is pivotally connected a small lever 41 provided with a projection 411 which extends below the slot 40 for the insertion of the coin. This'projection 411 serves for stopping the coin which is inserted into the chute 42 and passes to the slot 40 in the lever-arm 391. The latter is provided 1f the crank 1 and segment 41 arc operated without the previous'insertion of the coin the shoulder 43 ,abuts against the notch 35 of the segment 41 and prevents the rotation of the latter. The passage of the surface 44 of the segment over the circular circumference of the coin causes the lever-arm 301 to be the segment 415 After the rotation of the segment 41 through a small angle the surface 44 comes into contact with the lever 41 and depresses the latter so that the projection 411 of the said lever is removed from the slot 40 and releases the coin which thereupon descends through the chute 46 and passes into the cash box 47. The spring 48 retains the double armed lever 39 in the. position shown in Fig. 1, the free end of the lever arm abutting against the surface 44 of the segment 41. The counting mechanism which registers the results l lautomaton A representing the skittle-player.

of the game is illustrated in Fig. 4. I This counting mechanism is operated by the shaft 37 and toothed gear wheels 49,22 50, 51 and 52. The toothed wheel 52 is fixed to the shaft 53 on which two worms 54, 55 are rotatable. These two worms can be coupled alternatively with the shaft 53 by means of a clutch 56 so as to be rotated by the said shaft. The displacement of the. shaft 53 with the clutch 5G for the purpose o f coupling said shaft with either of the worms is effected by means of a bar 57 which engages, by means of an arm 58, a slide-ring 59 fixed to the shaft. The bar 57 forms the bolt of an ordinary lock, and is provided with a'pin 60 which engages the bifurcated end 0f the arm 611 of the bell-crank lever 61. The displacement of the bar 57 towards the right (Fig. 4) causes the lever 61 to rotate about its fulcrum 62 so that the arm 611l and with it the arm 391 of the lever 39 are moved upwards. By this means the lever-arm 391 is moved into the position which it occupies when the driving mechanism is to be wound up Without the insertion of a coin. Fig. 4 illustrates the position of the parts when the winding up is to be effected by means of a coin. 63 and 64 are counting wheels of which the former serves for registering when the winding up of the driving mechanism is effected bymeans of a coin; and the latter for registering when the winding up is effected without a coin. Each of the said wheels is provided withthe worm 54, -or 55, and each of the said worms meshes with two worm-wheels 64 and 65 arranged one behind the other. The rear Wheel 65 has 101 tooth and the front wheel 66 which also serves as a dial has 100 teeth, so that while the front wheel makes one complete revolution the rear wheel only makes approximately 99/100 of a revolution. With the worm- Wheel 65 is\connected the shorter hand or pointer 67, the longer hand or pointer 68 being fixed to the nonrotatable axle of the said worm-wheel. The front worm-Wheel forming the dial is provided with two concentric scales the outer scale having 100 divisions and the inner scale 10,000 divisions. The counting mechanism is therefore adapted to register up to 10,000. The toothed wheel 31 fixed to the spring barrel 69 engages the pinion 70 fixed to the shaft 37.

In the shaft 37 are arranged seven cams 71, 72, 73, 74 75, 76 and 77. The cam 71 is adapted to operate mechanism which places a ball 78 between the hands of the This mechanism comprises the bell-crank lever 79 (Fig. 11) the arm 791 of which forms at its free end a fork which engages a pin 80 fixed on the rod of the piston 81. The upper end of -this piston is adapted to support a ball. The lever-arm 7911 is connected with one end of a rod 82, the other end of the said rod making contact with the circumference of the cam 71 by means of a pin 83. The weight of the piston 81 which bears upon the lever arm 791 insures continuous contact between the pin 83 and the cam 71. 1'

By` each revolution of the cam the piston is lifted from its lowest to its highest position and then allowed to return to the former. The piston 81 is arranged at. the end of the path 84 along which the balls return from the end of the alley to the automaton A.

The cam 73 is adapted to operate the bell-crank lever 85 by means of the pin 86 fixed to the lever-arm 851.

, 117 is located directly below the skittles.

ton A may be retained by the said hands.

This pin is pressed against the circumference of the cam 73 by the spring 8 7. With the lever-arm 851'jare pivotally connected the rods 88 and 89, the rod 89 being pivotally connected to the floor 90 of the skittle-alley. 'llhe link 91 extends from the rod 89 into the interior of the automaton A, and the arms 92, 9,2l of the latter are fixed to the shaft 93. To the same shaft is fixedl the lever 94 which is pivotally connected with the rod 91. Between the upper and lower members of the arms 92, 92l flat-springs 95 96 are provided in ord'er that the ball pushed by the rod 81 between the hands of the automa- By the action of the mechanism operating the automaton A the arms of the latter are swung backwards and forwards while the other parts of the figure remain motionless.

The cam 73 is provided with a notch 97 which causes the swinging-movement of the arms of the'automaton A to be suddenly interrupted so that the ball supported by the said arms is projected onto the skittlelalley and rolls towards the skittles. y

lIn order to allow of slightly altering the direction in -which the ball is ,thrown the automaton A is supported 1 upon the small turn-table 98, the rotational axis of the of the cam 73 the rod 100 connected\with the bell-V crank lever 85. the lever 101, and the rod 102 are operated and the head of the automaton B is by this means turned to and fro. The movement of the arms and legs of said automaton B is produced by means of the cam 77 (Fig. 10). The double armed lever 103 is supported in such. a manner that the `pin 104`xed to the freeend of the lever-arm 103l is pressed against the circumference of the cam 77 by the spring 105 acting upon the lever-arm 10311. a rod 106 (Figs. 1 and 10) which engages the slot 107 in said lever by mealis of a pin, extends into the interior of the automaton B. The arms and legs of the automaton B are fixed to shafts 107 and 108 respectively.- To these shafts the two levers 109 and 110 are fixed, the said levers being movably connected with the rod 106. By the rotation of the cam 77 the above described mechanism is caused to produce the upward and downward,l movement of the arms and legs of the aiitomaton B..

The setting up of the skittles is effected bymearis of the ca m 'A72 (Figs. 2 and 5). .The spring 111 presses a pin 113 xed to the free'end of th arm 112l of the double-armed lever 112` against the circumference of the cam 72. g

The bifurcated end ofthe said arm 112u engages the cross-bar 114`to which the two rods 115 and 116 (Fig. 2) are fixed, theV said rod supporting the plate `117 (Figs 1 and 5). By means of the double armed lever 112 this' plate 117 can be raised and lowered. The plate At the position provided for each Vskittle a hole is made in the alley, and-through the said hol'e passes a chain 118 attached on the' one hand to the under-surface of the From the lever 103 skittles after being .set up are loosely connected with 7 OV the plate 117 so that the chains between the skittles and the plate 117 allow of knocking over the skittles.

The setting up of the skittles is effected by means of a recess in the cam 72, which causes the plate-117 to be pulled downwards by the lever 112 with a short, 75

rapidmovement. By this means the chains are stretched and the springs are partially bent so that the skittlesare erected. The surface of the'cam 72 is so shaped that after the `chains have been pulled by the plate 117 and the skittles have been erected a 80 .slow upward movement of the said plate takes placel so that there is no. tendency for the skittles to fall down again. o o

The automaton C serves to return the balls to the player A. A groove 120 for the reception of the- 85 thrown balls extends roupd the alley, the lowestpart of this groove being directly in front of the automaton C so that the balls entering the groove roll towards this automaton. The latter is operatedl by Athe cams74, l 75 and 76. The cam 74 imparts, by means of mech- -90 anism hereinafter described a forward and backward swingingmovement to the-automaton, the fulcrum about which the latter oscillates being at a (Fig. l). The cam 74 (Fig. 6) engages the pin- 121 fixed to one end of the rod 122. The other end of this rod is con- 95 nected with the lever 123 fixed tothe shaft 124. To the same shaft i's fixed the lever 125 to which is connected thel rod 126. From this rod 126 the link `127 extends through the s lot 128 into the interior of the automaton C. When operated by means of the rod 126 the link 127 acts as a double armed lever with its fulcrum at a. The cam 75 serves to produce a bending movement of the upper part of the bodyl of the automaton C. kThe mechanism which is vcon'ne'cted with lthis cam 75 comprises parts 129 130, 131 and132 1.05

similarI to the parts 121, 122, 123, and 124 connected with the cam 74. To the shaft 132 is fixed the lever 133` provided at its free end with the slot 134 which engages the pin 135 the latter being fixed to the rod 126. By the rotation of the cam 75 the rod 126 is 110 moved upwards and downwards and by this means a reciprocating movement of the upperpait of the body of the automaton C is obtained.

The cam 76 produces by its connection with the automaton C an upward and downward movement of the arms of the latter.l The mechanism which connectsthe cam 76 with the automatonv C comprises parts 136, 137, 138, 139 and 140 similar to those described `with reference to Fig 7. The lever 140 is connected to the rod 141 which is Aconnected with the 120 lever 142 fixed to the shaft 143. To the' shan 143 are also iixed the arms 144,145. Between the. upper and lower member of each -arm of the automaton C flat springs are arranged as in the case of the automaton A, and for the same' purpose. 'Phe cams 74,75 and 76 125 actuate by their rotation the mechanism connected withI the automaton C and thns cause the latter to stoop for the purpose of raising the ball, to'thereupon assume an upright position and move the upper part of the body forward and place the ball into the trough 84.v vAfter having placed the ball into the said trough the hands of the automaton.C slide laterally downwards from the ball.

Each revolution of the shaft 37 causes the automata to perform the movements described.

The toothed wheel 22, which engages the stoppingr mechanism has twice as many teeth as the toothed wheel 49 on-the shaft 37 so that the automata perform the said movementstwice before the stopping mechanism acts on the motor. With the motor there is also connected mechanism which indicates the num'- ber of skittles knocked over by the ball. For each skittle there is provided a bell-crank lever 146 and the' levers 146 are rotatable about the shaft 147. The chains 118 attached to the skittles pass through holes in the lever-arms 1461 and are retained in these holes by screws 148, the lever-arms 1461 are prolonged beyond their fulcra on the shaft 147 and carry balanceweights 146111; the lever-arms 146 of the bell-crank lever 146 are pi'votally connected with the rods 149. The latter are pivotally connected with the free ends of the single-armed levers 150, each of the latter being xed to one of the shafts 151. The shafts 151 are rotatably mounted at onevend in the bracket 152 and at the other end in the rectangularly bent plate 153, the, said bracket and plate being fixed to the undersurface of the floor of the skittle alley. After passing through the plate 153 the shafts 151 are bent downwards atright angles so that cranks 1511 are formed. To the floor of the skittle-alleyvis fixed the vertical f" frame 154. In the latter vertically movable rods 155 are provided the number of rods 155 being equal to the number of skittles. The rods 155 are guided in the cross-bars 1541, 154 of the frame. To each of the rods 155 is fixed a metal tongue 156 located a short distance above the cross-bar 154 and the lower edge of each metal tongue 156 rests upon the finger 151 provided at the -lower end of the respective crank- 1511 the under surface of the said nger being slightly inclined. The tongues 156 are guided in the slides 1531 on the plate 153. .The rods 155 are provided'at their-upper-en'ds with semi-circular parts and with printing-types representing numerals. .Below the said types the roller 157 is rotatable in the frame 154 and over the said roller the strip of paper Orr-tape 158 is caused to travel. B

When a number of Skittles are knocked over the chains`118 attached thereto exert anupward pull on i the corresponding arms 1461y of the bell-crank levers 146, and the shafts 151 connected with the latter by the rods V149 and levers 150 are slightly rotated so that the fingers 151 of the respective cranks 1511 release the tongues 156 resting thereon, and the corresponding rods 155 descend and produce, by means of the type, impressions upon the paper 158. The lattertravels from the roller 159 over the pins 160, 161 and thence over the rod 162 which, owing to its inclined position deflects the vertical path. From the rod 162 the paper travels over the roller 157 and then overvthe rod 163,' the latter being so inclined that it deflects the paper from the'verticall path into a horizontal path. 'Thereupon the4 paper passes ,between the two rollers 164, 165 and is wound up on the roller 166. The winding up of the paper on the roller 166 is effected intermitpaper from a horizontal into a tently, a certain length of the band being wound up each time a ball has been thrown andthe types on the rods 155 have made impressions on the paper. For this purpose the axle of the roller 164 is provided at one end with the ratchet wheel 167 at the other end with the pulley 168. To the axle of the roller 166 there is also fixed a pulley 169, at the saine level as the pulley 168, and the pulley 169 is adapted to be driven by the pulley 168 by means of the cord 170 passing over both pulleys. The ratchet. wheel 167 is engaged by the pawl 171 adapted to slide in the slotted guide 172, the said pawl being pivotally connected with the free end of the single-turned lever 125. By the oscilla-ting movement of the lever-arm 125 the pawl 171 is reciprocated and the ratchet wheel 167 is intermittently rotated.

The journals of the roller 165 are supported in slots and the springs 173, 174 bearing against the said journals press the roller 165 against the roller 164 so that the paper'which passes between the said rollers is moved by the latter. As the diameter of the paper wound on the roller 166 increases the cord 170 slips on the pulley 169, the paper being uniformly fed by the rollers 164 165 whereas the roller 166 tends to wind up more paper than is fed to it by the rollers 164 165. The double-armed lever 175 fulcrumed at 176 serves to move back to their original positions the rods 155 which have descended. The arm 1751 of this lever 175 is provided with the cross-head 177 and the other lever-arm 17511 engages under the arm 11211 of the double-armed lever 112. When the lever-arm 11211 descends and sets up the skittles knocked over it simultaneously depresses the lever-arm 175 and thus causes the leverarm 1751 to move upwards, so that the cross-head 177 lifts the rods 155, and the tongues 156 fixed to the latter again engage the fingers 15111 of the cranks 1511. n In order to obtain good and legible impressions by means of the types supported by the rods 155, the inkfountain or receptacle 179 of trapezoidal cross-section is supported above the roller 157 in the frame 154 by means of the axle 178. Y

An ink pad is arranged in the Vsaid receptacle 179 and to oneend of the latter there is fixed the pin 180. The

single armed lever 182 at the upper end of the rod 181 engages with its slotted end the pin 180. the said rod 181 being guided, like the rods 155, in the cross-bars 1541 154 of the frame 154. The rod 181 is. vertically movable and its lower end is always in contact with the cross-head 177. By the movement of the double armed lever 175 the rod 181 is caused to execute an upward and downward movementl and to impart, by .means of the lever 182 and the pin 180, oscillation through an angle of 90 degrees to the receptacle 179, so that the ink-pad is alternatelypressed against the type and removed therefrom.

The apparatus may also be provided with a device for indicating, for instance by electrical means when all skittles except the one at the center have been knocked over. An arrangement for this purpose is illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 by way of example. Fig. 13 is a circuit-diagram including the electro-magnet 183,'arn1ature 184 and an electric battery 1841. Each skittle is provided with a contact device. The part b. (Fig. 14) of the Contact device for the central skittle or so-called King is located above the Contact bow seaeza c, whereas the part-S xb` of the contact devices belonging to the other Skittles are located below the corresponding contactsbows c`. When all skittles have been set up the parts b and c belonging to the central skittle make Contact with each other whereas the parts b and o belonging to the other skittles are out oi contact with each other. I

j It is obvious from Figs.v 13 and 1 4 that the circuit is only closed when all the skittleswith the exception of the one at the center have been knocked over. When follows: If the Winding up f the motor is to be effected Without the insertion of a coin the bar 57 is moved towards the `right (Fig. 4) by means of the key 185. By this means the counting device 64 is actuated and at the same time the mechanism comprising .the parts 60, 61 and 39, which prevents the movement of the crank 1 is put out of action. Thereupon tlecrank 1 is rotated in the manner described, that is to say through 180 degrees in one direction and then through the saine angle inithe other direction; by this means the driving mechanism is put into action. By each double operation of the crank l thedriving spring is wound up.- It

-is in this case assumed that the said spring is wound up to a certain extentA before theplaying of the game. If the Winding up of the driving spring is to be effected after the insertion `of a coin the bar 57 actuates the counting device 63 and at the same time unlocks thel crank 1, whereupon the driving mechanism is put intoI action by means of the crank.

What I claim as my invention and desire by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In apparatus for the purpose Set forth the combination of a base, automata mounted thereon, a Series of kitties mounted on saidbase, means for causing one of said automata to grasp and throws ball along Said base, andmeans for causing another of s'aid automata to return the ball to the first mentioned automaton.

2. Inapparatus for the purpose set forth the. combination of a base, automata mounted thereon, a series of skittles mounted on said base, means for causing one of said automata to grasp and throw a ball along said base in the direction of the skittles means for causing another' of said automata to return the ball to the iii-st mentioned automata and meanslfor returning the skittles knocked down to their original positions. f

3. hi apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a base. 'automata mounted thereon, a driving shaft, a motor adapted to operate the latter, means for starting and stopping said motor, a series of skittles mounted on to secure saidbase, means operated from said driving shaft for cause ingone automaton to grasp and throw a ball aiongpthe base in the direction of the skittles', means for causing' another automaton to return the ball to the first mentioned automaton, und means forreturning the skittles knocked' down to their' original position.

4. In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combination of a base, automata mounted thereon, a driving shaft, a niotor adapted to operate the latter, means for'starting and stopping lsaid motor, a ser-ies of skittles resiliently mounted `on said base, means operated from said driving shaft for causing one automaton tograsp and throw a ball along the base towards said skittles, means for' causing another' automaton to return said ball to the iirst, menticned automaton, means for returning the skittles knocked down to their original position, menns'for indicating the number of skittles knocked down at eachl throw'and means for registering the scores of the'players.

In apparatus for the purpose set forth the* combination of a base two automata mounted thereon, an inclined trough located between said automata, a series of skittles mounted on ysaid base, means whereby one autom- .-iton is'caused to grasp. a ball and throw same along the base towards the skittles' means whereby the other automaton is caused to pick up the thrown ball from the base and place same in the inclined' trough aforesaid, and means for returning the skittles knocked down by the ball to their original positions.

6. In apparatus for the purposeset forth the combinaton of a base,A automata mounted thereon, a series of skittles mounted on said base. a driving shaft,'a spring motor. adaptedto actuate said shaft, a crank for winding said motor,y means for starting and stopping the latter, means for preventing the movement of the motor during the rotation of the crank, means for preventing movement of the crank during action ofthe motor, means` operated from the driving shaft aforesaid for causing one of said automata to grasp and throw a ball along'said base and means for causing anotherof said automata to return the ball to'the iirst mentioned automaton.

7. In apparatus for the purpose set forth the combina-s tion with an alley of an automaton mounted adjacent one end thereof and adapted to rotate about its vertical axis, a second automaton mounted adjacent the opposite end of the alley, an inclinedtrough located betweensaid automata. a series of skittles supported by the alley, a driving shaft, cams and lever mechanisms operated by said shaft whereby the first automaton is caused to grasp a ball and throw same along the alley towards the skittles and whereby the second` automaton` is caused to pick up the thrown ball from the iioor of the alley and place same in the inclined trough aforesaid, a plate below the alley adjacent the skittles, flekible resilient connections between the skit ties and said plate and cam and lever mechanism operated by the driving shaft whereby the plate is moved to tension -said connections and raise the skittles knocked down by the ball substantially as described.

8. In apparatusfor the purpose set forth the combination of an alley, automata movably mounted thereon, a series of skittles located between said automata, a driving shaft, a motor adapted to operate same, means driven from said shaft for placing a ball between the hands of one automaton, means whereby said automaton is caused to grasp the bail and throw same along said alley in the direction of the skittles, means driven from said driving shaft whereby another automaton is caused to pick up the ball from the iioor of the alley and return it to the iirst mentioned automaton, means driven from said driving shaft for returning to their original' positions the skittles knocked down by the ball, means for graphically indicating the number of skittles knocked down, means for indicating when all the skittles but one have been knocked down and means for registering the scores of the players substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have signed 'this specification in Athe presence of two witnesses.

g OTTO EICHENBERGER. Witnesses: i

L. H. MUNicnY, Cris. HUMBERT.

iso 

